Disclaimer: There characters in no way belong to us, we are not making any profit off of this, it's just for fun. We just wanted to tell a story…a really really, really LONG story… But a story nonetheless.

Author Notes: Thanks to everyone who reviewed, we hope you enjoy what else we've got planed. Because trust me, there is a whole lot more.
(oh and a quick note for 'me'
One: You are correct! The line from the comic was indeed 'your thoughts are deafening.'
Two: Pyro was included in the second chapter amongst Clarice's musings, he's mentioned right after Jonothon. Look again and I'm sure you'll find it.)

Fallout Part 4
By starched_undergarments (with minor work at the end by N)

News traveled fast.

Especially, Scott found, being in such cramped accommodations. He and Jean had been a couple for not even a full day and already everyone knew, which meant he was up for constant ribbing; he didn't mind it from Kurt or Bobby but when the Brotherhood boys started up he debated weather or not he should ask Jean to psionically muzzle everyone or not.

He, being Scott, decided against it.

He sat in his hotel room now, listening to Kurt take his late morning shower. Kurt was in fact singing, which Scott found slightly bizarre for reasons he couldn't explain. That very morning the two teams had been roused early and introduced to Clarice, the purple skinned ninja girl who had given Scott a couple of good bruises at Senator Hull's place.

She seemed completely different; the girl at Hull's had been cold, composed and most of all dangerous, but the girl he had met just a few hours ago was shy, polite and sweet, and this made Scott wonder what the hell she had been doing with Magneto in the first place.

He stretched and wandered over to the mini-fridge and pulled out a can of Five-Alive, sipping it as his thoughts churned over in his head.

She was the same girl the Professor had tried to recruit months ago. The memory of his urgency and the sight of her home bubbled in his brain.

The dirt, the grey depressing foundation, the blood.

Clearly something awful had happened to her there, something she would probably never speak about. But that's how it went usually; the people with deep-seated problems never spoke about them out loud.

Scott knew this from personal experience.

***

As Scott Summers pondered the arrival of Xavier's new guest and his own psychological problems, Rogue sat alone on the edge of the indoor pool, her bare legs dangling in the cool waters.

She didn't want to go swimming, she just needed to get away for a while, needed to think.

It was official now, Jean and Scott were a couple, something she knew was going to happen but still stung her to hear. She had been walking back towards her room, having just been introduced to Clarice when Kitty had bopped up to her and cheerfully informed her about the new 'pair.'

At first she had felt angry and hurt, but now that it had time to sink in she just felt defeated and lonely.

It made sense though; Jean was nice and beautiful, friendly and above all else, safe. He could and would (much to her dismay) kiss, touch, and hold her.

And that was what probably hurt most of all.

***

"I can't get no, ugh ugh ugh, sat-is-faction!"

Robert Drake paused, stifling a laugh as he watched his teacher shake his blue furry rump in mirror; Mr. McCoy was a man of literature and science, not some rock and roll star. Watching him behave like one was borderline surreal. Finally his giggles gave way and he burst out laughing, causing Hank to turn and grin sheepishly.

"Bobby, my dear boy, care to join me in a verse?" he asked and gestured for the young X-man to enter his room. Bobby did so and shut the door behind him.

"No thanks teach, I'll leave the Stone's singing to you."

The two grinned at each other and Hank motioned for him to have a seat, "Well if you're not here to join me in a musical debut, then what's on your mind?"

Bobby shrugged, his stomach clenching uncomfortably. "No reason really… Just bored. Lunch isn't for a while and all the others are off showering and stuff…."

"Bobby?" Hank sat down next to him, "If there is something the matter you can talk to me about it. Don't think of me as just one of your teachers, think of me as a friend. One of your backwards-hat-wearing, hula-hoop-swinging chums."

Bobby smiled despite his uneasiness and picked at his sweater fibers.

"It's just that… Well, when I was getting dressed this morning I turned on the T.V. and it mentioned some sort of beating down in Texas where these guys beat up a mutant because she looked weird."

"Oh dear," Hank mused, his eyes instantly going soft.

"And it just got me thinking…."

"About us? Or about the others? Ray and everyone?"

"Yeah, I mean I miss them…I do. And I'm worried that…you know, Rahnie doesn't always have great control over her looks…"

Hank put a comforting arm around Bobby who gratefully sank into it. "And I'm worried about us, what we're going to do. I mean we can't hide in hotels all our lives, and then there's my parents!"

"Robert I'm shocked that you didn't say something sooner, this is quite a load to be carrying. Why didn't you talk to one of the other kids? I'm sure they understand and have all the same fears…"

"I can't." Bobby sighed, and shrugged, "I don't want to seem…. You know…" He shrugged uncomfortably. "Weak."

Hank looked at him, "Weak?"

"Like a… a baby. Like some kid who can't keep himself together. I mean Scott's so good at always looking and acting so cool, so in control, and I try but…"

Hank hugged him briefly, his massive arms encircling the young man. "My dear boy, although Mr. Summers may not always show it, he too has trouble keeping it together, everyone does. You are not a child just because you worry about your friends and family. In fact that makes you a very compassionate and considerate young man."

"You think so?" He asked, looking up hopefully.

"I know so," he said and punched him lightly on the shoulder. "You hang in there champ."

Bobby grinned and got up, his fears at ease. "Thanks, teach."

"Anytime Bobby. What are friends for?" Hank said and watched as the boy left. Then he got up; his good-natured smile slowly falling, and punched in the number for the Professor's phone.

"Professor, we might have a problem, I think we should definitely tune into the news tonight…."

***

The room was silent save the soft murmurs coming from the television; it's blue light flickering across and array of solemn faces.

It was the sixth day of residing at the Quiet Palms hotel and at present time the entire team of mutants were crowded into Professor Xavier's room, watching the six o clock news. Normally any one of the kids would have changed the channel by now but when the news of one's personal fate was being broadcasted all across the country one understandably tuned in.

The news of course was regarding mutants, and mainly focused on Senator Hull, whom the X-men had saved only a week ago.

He did not seem particularly grateful for their help.

"And I repeat, that the next mutant freak that dares come into my home will be greeted by six silver friends that I'll be keeping beside me at all times!"

The crowd assembled before Hull cheered with enthusiasm, their cries of encouragement made the pit of Scott's stomach drop out.

Logan inhaled on his cigar, the embers blinking defiantly in the dark. "Ungrateful dope," he muttered and exhaled the smoke bitterly.

The T.V. rattled on about the attack then progressed to related news, namely the recent harsh mutant backlash. There were hate crimes, accusations, graffiti and beatings, all related to mutants. The population was panicking and that left everyone, Scott especially, feeling more nervous than ever.

"Professor what does all of this mean?" Kitty asked and Scott flinched at the naiveté in her voice.

"It would seem that Senator Hull has regrettably chosen to view mutants, all mutants, as a threat."

Jean cradled herself and looked at the screen, the crowds of people yelling silently, their faces contorted into masks of anger and hatred.

"And he has chosen to share his encounter with the public, resulting in this backlash against mutants."

"Against us," Storm murmured and got up, turning her eyes away from the screen.

"This means, Kitty," the Professor continued, "that the public fears us even more now, I had hoped that the Senator would have seen from our scuffle with the Acolytes that there are mutants out there willing to help people, to protect them. But he has decided that even we are a threat."

Jean grimaced as the news showed a particular nasty 'homosapien survival skirmish', the angry eyes of the people on screen made her head ache.

"I can't believe this," she said out loud, her eyes still on the screen.

"I know it looks bad," Storm began but Jean interrupted her, her voice strangely angered.

"Not their reaction, that's only normal. What I can't believe is how easily all of this could have been avoided."

Scott looked at her puzzled and she finally tore her gaze away from the millions of angry stares. "You should have mind wiped him," she said and stared angrily and the Professor.

"Jean..?" Scott started.

"You should have wiped his mind! Then none of this would be happening!"

"Jean, please," the Professor held up a hand. "I decided that the Senator must make up his own mind about us, had he chosen rightly he might have been able to start an understanding of mutants."

"But he didn't!" Jean yelled at him, her hair flying wildly about her face. "And now things are even worse and we have to hide while others are being beaten and killed, all because one man made the wrong decision!"

"Jean it is not my place to alter or control people's minds."

"Then you're a fool," she spat at him and strode from the room, slamming the door behind her.

"What the fuck got into her?!!" Lance blurted, but was answered only by silent confusion.

***

After the distressing news and a few brief comforting words from the Professor the kids returned to their rooms, waiting restlessly until dinner arrived.

Clarice, new to the group, waited quietly in the hall. She was currently sharing a room with Storm but could tell that the woman needed a few moments alone, she was understandably stressed.

So she wandered the halls, her feet quietly padding across the soft woven carpets. A door opened to her left and she watched as Evan, Kurt and Lance emerged, all dressed in boxers and with towels in hand.

"Going to a nudist colony?" She asked and all the boys jumped.

"Jeeesus!" Lance yelled, clutching his chest. "You just gave me a fuckin' heart attack!"

"Sorry," she said quietly and moved to leave. Evan laughed and stopped her.

"It's okay, you're just so quiet we didn't see you there."

"Oh." She glanced at their boxers and raised an eyebrow. Lance shrugged and smiled.

"We don't have any bathing suits."

"You're going swimming?"

Evan nodded and adjusted the towel around his neck, "Yeah, we figured we would work up an appetite as well as get rid of some of this nervous energy after that bummer of a news report."

"You wanna come?" Lance asked and she blushed.

"No, I don't…"

"Aww c'mon! You can watch Kurt's fur clog up the pool filters!" He draped an arm around her thin shoulders, pulling her along with them, as Kurt trailed behind, insisting that he did NOT shed.

***

"Jean?"

She didn't respond at first, so he tried again and he heard her sigh. It was a dry, old sound.

"Yes?" Her voice sounded tired, and somehow strained.

"Are you okay?" He asked.

Scott moved to her side. Jean was staring out at the city below her, her reflection in the window watching the lines of cars and people with a look bordering on loathing.

"Yes, Scott I'm fine," she said, her voice completely deadpan.

He put a hand on her shoulder, trying to give her comfort. "Why…why did you say those things? To the Professor?" He asked her at last.

Her shoulders tightened and for a moment he could almost feel some sort of spark, an angry flare coming off of her.

Then it was gone.

"I don't know," she said, turning towards him and embracing him.

"I…just don't feel like myself tonight."

***

Scott was starting to feel like the only responsible person in the hotel; he was currently standing in front of his teachers, his stomach clenched up in frustration. After checking on Jean he had decided that enough was enough and that a course of action had to be decided upon, for the good of everyone involved.

"Professor," Scott said. "We can not keep going like this. At this rate there isn't going to be anywhere left for us to hide!"

The Professor sighed and cast a sideling glance at Storm. Her lips thinned visibly but she remained silent.

"Scott, I did think of one place where we might be offered safe haven."

"Then why aren't we there already?" Scott started to pace. "We can't accomplish anything if we're running all the time…"

"Scott." Something in Xavier's voice brought Scott to a halt, his mouth half open in silent question. "The reason I have hesitated is because we are not guaranteed a very warm welcome. Secondly, if we are offered sanctuary, I have every reason to be suspicious of the motives behind the offer."

Xavier brought a hand to his forehead. "But I'm afraid I am left with precious few options."

* * *

Boston.

A long-distance call was put through to an expensively furnished office, where a manicured hand lifted the heavy receiver of an antique phone.

"Charles. Why how marvelous to hear from you. Your 'Institute' was all over the media. Quite a mess."

A barely suppressed chuckle. "'Desperate.' Oh, Charles, you wound me."

Nails that had been tapping staccato on the desk halted and hovered expectantly. "How many? … My, my, you have been busy."

Slim hands pulled open a drawer and removed a leather-bound notebook. A fountain pen joted down disjointed information in elegant handwriting.

"Do you have transport? Ah, of course. Very well then. Snow Valley. I trust you can find it, and I'll be sure to deactivate security. I'll see you tomorrow morning."

Full, ruby lips split suddenly in a predator's grin. "I'm doing this for them of course. You know I have a soft spot for children. Goodbye, Charles."

In the silence of her private office, Emma Frost allowed herself a decidedly evil chuckle.

***

End Fallout